Electric switch



E. H. JACOBS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30,1917.

1,347,779, Patented July 27, 1920.

mvenmn Ernest H. Jacobs,

His fitter-neg.

to engage a latching recess UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

mma. JACOBS, 0F cnrcncro, ILLINOIS, AssIGnon To GENERAL ELECTRIC commmxn conrom'rion or NEW YORK. I

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

To all 'wh omit may concern-.-

Be it known that I ERNEST JAooBs, a citizen of the United tates, residing at Chicago, in the countyof Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

- My invention relates to electric switches and has for its object to provide an electric switch in which the operating member or handle is movable in one direction to trip the "switch and in the opposite direction to reset theswitc'h and is adaptedto be auto matically returned to initial position free of the switch mechanism from either switch closing or switch tripping'position'.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention will be indicated in the claims appended hereto while the features of construction and mode of operation will be understood fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing whichshows in perspective a switch embodying the features of my invention. I

In the drawing, features of my invention is shown comprising fixed contacts 1 and 2 and a movable or bridging contact member 3 coeperating therewith to open and close the circuit through the'switch. The bridging contact 3 is carried by a longitudinally movable rod 4 which is carried by an actuating arm 5 to which rod 4 is pivotally secured near one end thereof. The arm 5 is biased to circuit opening position by a biasing means or spring 6 which also acts to, accelerate the movement of the arm 5 and rod 4 in switch opening direction. The arm 5'is supported at its opposite end by a bearing member preferably integral therewith and movable upon a shaft 8. i

For restraining or looking the actuating arm 5 in switch closing position against the bias of spring 6, a latching or restraining means is provided comprising a latching member 9 pivotally mounted on a separate shaft and carrying a pin 10 which is adapted 11 on the arm 5. The latching member 9 is normally biased to latching positionand ismovable to releasing position either automatically or at will in response to the hand operation of the switch. I

For automatically moving the latching Specification of Letters Patent.

a switch "embodying the i Patented July 27, 1920.

Application filed July 30, 1917. Serial No. 183,436.

member '9 to releasing position, an electroresponsive means or solenoid 12 is provided which has a plunger 13 adapted when raised to strike the end of the-latch 9 and move it to releasing position whereupon the switch is automatically tripped open. For tripping the switch at will or in response to the hand operation of the switch, a tripping means is provided comprising a member 1 1 movable onthe shaft 8 and carrying a tripping arm 15. Member 14 also carries a lug'16which cooperates with the pin 10 of latch 9 to move it from the recess 11 andpermit the actuating arm 5 to move to circuit opening posi-' tion. Thebearing member 7 also carries a resetting means or arm 17 which is operative to move the bearing member 7 and actuating arm 5 from switch opening to switch closing position and to simultaneously return the member 14 by meansof the lug 18 from switch tripping position to its initial position;

' w The operating meansfor the switch conconsisting of an arm curved in configura tionand biased by means of a spring 22 to normally occupya position free from the remaining mechanism for the switch and acting to automatically return the operating arm to initial position from either tripping or resetting positions. The tripping arm 15 and the resettingarm 17 are arranged to extend into the path .-of movement of operat ing arm 21. the arm 21 being located between the tripping and resetting arms and independent therefrom. I I

A movement .of the operating arm 21 in 7 i an upward direction caused by a movement of the handle 19fto the right engages the tripping arm 15 to trip the switch and a movement of the handle 19 in the opposite direction carries the arm 21 into engagement with the resetting arm 17 to reset the switch, the arm 21 automatically returning to its initial position free from both said arms by the spring 22 when the handle 19 is released, whereby the switch is adapted to be automatically tripped independent of the handle.

The operation of my switch may be described as follows. In the position shown in the drawing, the switch is in closed po sition and the operating arm 21 is in its initial position free from the remaining mechanism of the switch and maintained in this position by the spring 22. The handle 19 is accordingly in its initial position. "\vhen the switch is automatically tripped by the electroresponsive means 12, the plunger 13 engages the latch 9 and raises it with pin 10 to release the actuating arm 5 and permit it to move accelerated by the spring 6 into switch opening position. This movement of the actuating arm 5 rotates bearing member 7 and moves the resetting arm 17 in the direction of the operating arm 21 but not into engagement with the same. This automatic openingof the switch does not therefore disturb the operating mechanism for the switch and the handle 19 occupies the same position whether the switch is opened or closed. In order to trip the switch by hand, the handle 19 is moved to the right in tripping direction carrying operating arm 21 into engagement with the tripping arm 15 and causing a rotation of member 14L to carry the lug IGinto engagement with the pin 10 raising the latch 9 and releasing the actuating arm 5. The movement of member 1:1 to tripping position is limited by the lug .18 carried on member 7. Upon release of the handle 19, the handle and the operating arm 21 automatically return to initial position by the force exerted by spring 22.

In order to reset the switch, the, handle 19 is moved to the left or in resetting direction to carry operating arm 21 into engage: ment with resetting arm 17. The movement of the resetting, arm 17 by the operating arm 21 actuates the bearing'member 7 and carries actuating arm 5 into circuit closing position, the pin 10 of latch 9 falling by gravity, into the latching recess '11 of arm 5 and restraining it in switch closing position. If the switch has been automatically tripped, the movement-of the biasing memher 7 also causes its lug 18 to carry the mem-" her 14 and with it the tripping arm 15 and lug 16 to their initial position. Upon re lease of the handle 19, it automatically returns to initial position free from the resetting arm 17 and into a position such that the movement of the resetting arm 17 as the switch is automatically tripped takes place independent of the handle.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. An electric switch comprising fixed and movable contacts, an actuating arm for controlling said movable contact, a latching member biased to engage said arm and restrain it in switch closing position, an independent tripping member movable to engage said latching member and move it to releasing position, an independent resetting member for moving said actuating arm from switch opening to switch closing position, and an independently mounted operating arm intermediate said tripping and resetting members and movable to engage either of said members but biased free of both said members.

2. An electric switch comprising fixed and movable cooperating'contacts, an actuating shaft, an actuating arm carrying said movable contact mounted on said shaft and biased to switch opening position, a latching member biased to engage said arm and restrain it in switch closing position, a tripping member carriedby said shaft for movin; said latching member to releasing position, a resetting member carried by said shaft for moving said actuator arm from switch opening to closing position, an independently movable operating handle, and an operating arm controlled by said handle and biased to assume a position intermediate said tripping and resetting members and movable to either engage said tripping or resetting members. V

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of July, 1917.

1 ERNEST H. JACOBS. 

